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Iraq see off Slovakia, Brazil blow away Russia

THE DAY REPLAYED – In a much more one-sided match than was expected, Brazil secured a resounding 6-1 win over Russia in their Men’s Youth Olympic Futsal Tournament debut. Elsewhere, Iraq picked up their first win of the competition, defeating Slovakia 5-0 in impressive fashion.

The first game of the day in the men’s tournament had aroused so much interest in the Main Futsal Hall that the stands were not only packed with supporters but also with other national representatives, including the women’s squads from Tonga and Bolivia, who had played in the previous match, as well as the men’s teams from Iran and Egypt, and the Portuguese women’s side.

The match is unlikely to have disappointed any fans in attendance, with the Brazilians emerging victorious from a dual notable for a major clash of styles.

The South Americans dominated the early exchanges and, led by their captain, Neguinho, eventually eased to victory over the Russians, forcing goalkeeper Denis Subbotin to pick the ball out of the back of his net no fewer than six times. Neguinho (twice), Breno, Yuri, Wesley and Guilhermao all scored for the CONMEBOL side in the Group B encounter, while Ilia Fedorov replied with a consolation goal for the Europeans.

In Group A, Iraq again demonstrated their eye-catching pace and confidence, attributes which proved too much for Slovakia. In the Asians’ first match versus Panama, the posts denied them victory, but this time, braces from Hussein Abdulrahman and Salim Kadhim, as well as a goal by Hussein Sabri, succeeded in putting a smile on their supporters’ faces.

In the morning, the Brazilian team shared an emotional moment with the Wild Boars, the Thai youth football team that spent 18 days trapped in a cave before being rescued. They kicked a ball around together, and the young Asians were gifted soft-toy versions of Ginga, the official mascot of the Brazilian Olympic team.

Iraq has had more shots on goal than any other team so far. The 2017 AFC U-20 Futsal Championship runners-up have racked up 48 attempts in two matchdays, topping the shooting charts each time.

The Solomon Islands will be looking to bounce back after their heavy opening-day defeat by Iraq, but they will not have it easy against a Costa Rica team who earned plaudits despite their loss to Russia. After coming close to beating Argentina but having to ultimately settle for a draw, Egypt will be out to replicate the majority of that performance against Panama, who also earned a point last time out.